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Understand is a 1991 story by Ted Chiang. There's a Memphis mention, and I love when that happens. You can read it online here. You can have it read to you here. from Wikipedia:
The story follows a man who is given an experimental drug to heal brain damage caused by anoxia after he nearly drowns. The drug regenerates his damaged neurons and has the unintended side effect of exponentially improving his intellect and motor skills. As he gets smarter and smarter, he is pursued by several government agencies and eventually receives a message from -and then enters into conflict with- another super-intelligent test subject.This story is included in the anthology book Stories of Your Life and Others
I love local connections too. Stephen King went to the same university as me and he often adds in little mentions which I always enjoy. And sometimes other places, but never my town where I live. I think it's too obscure for that. Hugs-Erika
ReplyDeleteThere must be millions of songs with a Memphis connection but not many books and stories that I come across. They tug at me :)
Delete...I doubt if I'll ever be a super-intelligent test subject.
ReplyDeleteWhen treatments go terribly wrong...
DeleteThis story sounds a little like Stephen King's The Dead Zone
ReplyDeleteI've never read that one.
DeleteOne of his earlier novels
DeleteI've read maybe 2 books by him. I've only recently looked at modern horror with any interest.
DeleteSounds fascinaging. I grew up in Jack the Ripper territory in London, so always enjoy films and stories because of the gruesome connections! Valerie
ReplyDeleteWow! Makin' history come alive is so much easier when history goes back so far.
DeleteThis sounds like a story I have read, but can't place my finger on it. And no, it was not Dead Zone as CJ suggested. I would like to hear this one, though because I like psychological thrillers.
ReplyDeleteIt's less than an hour long in audio, so that's not too bad. Some of the older and longer novels go for hours and hours, and my mind tends to drift.
DeleteGreat to find the Memphis reference, it sounds like an interesting storyline 😀. Have a great day! Hugs, Jo x
ReplyDeleteIt is an interesting story, and the Memphis reference was icing on the cake :)
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